Dictionary

mare's nest en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈmɛːz nɛst/ (UK)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Alteration of earlier horse's nest, from the fanciful and unlikely notion that horses make nests.

Meanings

1. (figuratively) A great discovery which turns out to be illusory; especially, a hoax.
   • Near-synonyms: bullshit, horseshit
   • “Rubbish!” cried Lawrence angrily. “In my opinion the whole thing is a mare’s nest of Bauerstein’s! Wilkins hadn’t an idea of such a thing, until Bauerstein put it into his head. But, like all specialists, Bauerstein’s got a bee in his bonnet. Poisons are his hobby, so of course he sees them everywhere.” 1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 32:
   • Why dost thou laugh? What Mares nest hast thou found? c. 1620, John Fletcher (playwright), Bonduca, V.2
2. (figuratively) A confused or complicated situation; a muddle.
   • Though Chancellor Maupeou had supported the idea of a trial [...], the legal proceedings developed into a mare's nest of accusations and counter-accusations. 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 277:

Forms

Coordinates

boar's nest

Relateds

hen's tooth · snark · blinker fluid · muffler bearing · rocking horse shit · fool's gold

Synonyms

bullshit · horseshit · rat's nest

wikipedia: mare's nest